Alabama

Mobile BayBears start Southern League season tonight against Montgomery Biscuits

MIKE KITTRELL/Staff PhotographerMobile BayBears manager Rico Brogna speaks at a luncheon at Hank Aaron Stadium on Wednesday.The Mobile BayBears open the season tonight with a new coach and a new look, but they will be looking to a group that is not new to lead them.

Sixteen of the 25 players on the roster return for the BayBears, who begin their quest for the Southern League title in Montgomery at 7:05 p.m.

Mobile finished tied for third last season at 66-74 overall, placing second in the first half and fifth in the second half in the South Division.

"It's a unique group in that they are a group of players that love to play baseball," said new manager Rico Brogna, who took over in the offseason for Hector De La Cruz.

"For a manager, it's a great situation because they play hard and play with passion."

After the five-game set in Montgomery, the BayBears host Birmingham Wednesday for their home opener. That day also marks the opening of the Hank Aaron Childhood Home and Museum, with scheduled appearances by Hall of Famers Willie Mays, Ozzie Smith and Rickey Henderson, among others.

Wes Roemer, who won nine games for Mobile last season, will start tonight's opener for the BayBears. The Biscuits, who finished fifth overall last season at 65-74, will throw left-hander Alex Torres, rated by Baseball America as the No. 9 prospect in the Tampa Bay Rays' organization.

"I'm excited about it," Roemer said. "It's high intensity, a lot of emotions running, but I like to feed off that. I think it actually makes me a better pitcher."

While Roemer is part of an experienced pitching staff that also includes 10-game winner Barry Enright, the BayBears have plenty of offense returning with Ricardo Sosa and Cyle Hankerd leading the way.

Last season, Sosa hit .260 with 12 home runs and 71 RBIs, both team highs. Hankerd drove in 67 runs -- second on the team -- with seven home runs and hit .266.

"We're going to have a pretty good team this year," Hankerd said.

"We have a good group of young guys coming up that can really play and we have solid foundation of guys who have been here."

One of those newcomers, outfielder Collin Cowgill, has high expectations this summer. The former University of Kentucky standout is rated by Baseball America as one of the top 10 prospects in the Arizona Diamondbacks' farm system, and he is happy to be back in the South after spending last year at Single-A Visalia, Calif.

"I'm looking forward to being back in my neck of the woods," said Cowgill, who hit .277 with six home runs and 36 RBIs in 2009. "We have an unbelievable group of guys. This team, we have a great pitching staff, a pretty potent lineup with speed and power. It's going to be fun to watch this team play."

Brogna is thrilled about this team and said it has the ability to be a contender.

"Our goal, our job, is to win games and try to bring a championship to Mobile," he said. "I know we have a group that can do that. With this group of players, I feel very confident. I'm just going to try not to mess it up. They can play, and if I don't screw it up, we'll be OK."

ON THE AIRWAVES: The BayBears have signed a deal to have all 140 games this season broadcast on ESPN HD radio. Every Mobile game, including any postseason games, can be heard on 107.32 FM. Listeners will need an HD radio, but no subscription is needed. Games also can be heard on www.baybearsradio.com.